In the olden times, tattoos played a part in helping tribes differentiate between their enemies and supporters. The ink, once believed to be used only by tribal people, soon gained recognition from people who had now started living in cities and towns. Tattooing today is no more a taboo; people have started embracing and indulging in more such creative aspects. Today there are multiple styles, designs and patterns of tattoos available, but what still holds its charm is the old-school tattoos.
People keep coming back and forth to various trends and styles, and old-school tattoos are one style people keep coming back for; uniqueness has the power to pull those who understand the peculiarity of such designs.
Best Old School Tattoo Designs and Meanings:
The authentic collection of unique old-school tattoo designs will take you on the voyages of traditional American sailors. Below are some excellent old-school tattoos for you to reminisce on.
1. Bind-In Love Old School Tattoo:
A classic tattoo depicting love by an individual female, the old school tattoo shows the girl with her bleeding red heart clutched on her hands as a satin sashayed ribbon tied her to one place. The tears of sadness and the tied eyes could be a possible sign of blind love or treachery or both.
- Body Placement: Place this tattoo design on your arm, forearm or back.
- Design: The design shows a woman in pain.
- Ink Colour: Choose shades of black along with red for this one.
- Size: Make this a small to medium size.
- Skin Tone: Best on fair to medium skin tones.
- Suitable Gender: This tattoo design is suitable for all genders.
2. Never-Ending Love Old School Tattoo:
Here is a different concept to love where an inanimate skull is decorated and designed with two sword ends jutting out from each side. The skull is adorned with roses and petals, a classic sign of life, as this old-school tattoo could portray undying love and faith towards someone.
- Body Placement: Place this tattoo design on your arm, forearm or back.
- Design: The design shows a vibrant skull.
- Ink Colour: Choose shades of black along with red and white for this one.
- Size: Make this a small to medium size.
- Skin Tone: Best on all skin tones.
- Suitable Gender: This tattoo design is suitable for all genders.
3. Hourglass Beauty Old School Tattoo:
The hourglass has been one of the oldest designs to survive and go through modern interpretations. The hourglass mainly stands for time, either flying by or simply trying to trap the fleeting time within the boundaries of a thickened, upturned glass. It is one of the popular old-school tattoo designs for women.
- Body Placement: Place this tattoo design on your arm, forearm or back.
- Design: The design shows time slipping through the sands.
- Ink Colour: Choose shades of blue, green, and red for this one.
- Size: Make this small to medium size.
- Skin Tone: Best on fair to medium skin tones.
- Suitable Gender: This tattoo design is suitable for all genders.
Read More: Hourglass Tattoo
4. Anchor Ahoy Old School Tattoo:
It is a classic old-timer anchor with its face down portraying settlement, where the anchor seems to be adorned with a bright spiked halo at the back, giving an unnatural burst of life to this old-school tattoo. The vibrant colours and paintings alongside the anchor depict a joyous settlement rather than a morose one.
- Body Placement: Place this tattoo design on your arm, forearm or back.
- Design: The design shows an artistic anchor with vibrancy around it.
- Ink Colour: Choose shades of blue, green, and red for this one.
- Size: Make this small to medium size.
- Skin Tone: Best on fair to medium skin tones.
- Suitable Gender: This tattoo design is suitable for most men.
5. The Eloquent Eagle Old School Tattoo:
The eagle has always been considered a proud beast of the United States, and one of these classic old-school tattoos is bound to portray a soaring eagle. Nothing matches up to the majestic and powerful prowl of the being. The patriotism towards the states is evident in the rolled-up flag underneath, waiting to be set free.
- Body Placement: Place this tattoo design on your arm, forearm or back.
- Design: The design shows a falcon about to take flight.
- Ink Colour: Choose shades of black and brown along with the colours of the American flag.
- Size: Make this small to medium size.
- Skin Tone: Best on fair to medium skin tones.
- Suitable Gender: This tattoo design suits all genders, but primarily men get it done.
See More: Infinity Tattoo Meaning
6. Stabbed Heart Old School Tattoo:
An old-school tattoo classic is a red lustful, beating heart stabbed and jagged from the middle. Usually, these stabbed old-school heart tattoos have an arrow or a dagger going through and through, and the surrounding of the tattoo art portrays dramatic artworks to add a feel to the look.
- Body Placement: Place this tattoo design on your arm, forearm or back.
- Design: The design shows a stabbed heart with a dagger going across.
- Ink Colour: Choose shades of blue along with red for this one.
- Size: Make this a small to medium size.
- Skin Tone: Best on fair to medium skin tones.
- Suitable Gender: This tattoo design is suitable for all genders.
7. Preppy Tattoo Arts of Old School Tattoos:
A great hit between the sailors or the biker gangs, one of the old-school tattoo designs include women scantily dressed and posing provocatively in the tattoo. This was usually used to bring out the lustful side of the person or simply as a sign of fun, a mere gesture of womanizing that was very prevalent in the past.
- Body Placement: Place this tattoo design on your arm, forearm or back.
- Design: The design shows a woman in her curvy glory.
- Ink Colour: Choose shades of red and skin tones for this one.
- Size: Make this a small to medium size.
- Skin Tone: Best on fair to medium skin tones.
- Suitable Gender: This tattoo design is liked more by men.
See More: Harley Davidson Tattoo Designs
8. Game-Changing Cards Old School Tattoos:
Cards used to be the king of the old-school tattoo game and, quite frankly, still are in the same position. Much like the unpredictable game itself, cards are tattooed to portray a feeling of being able to tackle an unforeseeable or dubious lifestyle by portraying oneself as the game changer.
- Body Placement: Place this tattoo design on your arm, forearm or back.
- Design: The design shows a card of an ace of spades wearing a crown.
- Ink Colour: Choose shades of black for this one.
- Size: Make this small to medium size.
- Skin Tone: Best on fair to medium skin tones.
- Suitable Gender: This tattoo design is suitable for all genders.
9. Gypsy Skull Old School Tattoos:
The gipsy form of tattoo is recognized as an old school art where the tattoos usually would invigorate many abstract ideas that would either be extensively designed or vibrantly coloured depending upon a theme. Here we see a skull as the main character; often, many portray a woman, a bird, and such.
- Body Placement: Place this tattoo design on your arm, forearm or back.
- Design: The design shows a giggling bright skull.
- Ink Colour: Choose shades of dark colours such as purple, red and green.
- Size: Make this a small to medium size.
- Skin Tone: Best on fair to medium skin tones.
- Suitable Gender: This tattoo design is more apt for men.
10. Compass Tattoo Designs:
Today, the prevalence of compass tattoo is no more bound to warriors, mariners and pilots, yet has discovered its approach to win the hearts of youths, who adore this tattoo outline since it looks cool and classy, as well as because it has a more profound typical intending to mirror their state of mind. It is one of the most famous old-school tattoo designs endorsed by many celebrities, including the heartthrob of the youth – Justin Bieber. It is one of the popular old-school tattoo designs for girls.
- Body Placement: Place this tattoo design on your arm, forearm, wrist or back.
- Design: The design shows an old-school compass.
- Ink Colour: Choose black ink for this one.
- Size: Make this small to medium size.
- Skin Tone: Best on fair to medium skin tones.
- Suitable Gender: This tattoo design is suitable for all genders.
11. Mysterious Mermaid Old School Tattoo:
A standout amongst the most exciting and wonderful old-school tattoo art is the mermaid outline, which includes the beauty and appeal of this legendary animal. Initially most loved among the mariners who spend their lives on the ocean, these tattoos are presently similarly prevalent among ladies as they look female and mystical. The configuration likewise remains for freedom and fun-loving nature.
- Body Placement: Place this tattoo design on your back or the side of your hips and abdomen.
- Design: The design shows a mermaid caught by an anchor.
- Ink Colour: Choose shades of blue, pink and grey for this design.
- Size: Make this in medium to big sizes for the perfect look.
- Skin Tone: Best on fair to medium skin tones.
- Suitable Gender: This tattoo design is suitable for all genders.
12. Gorgeous Pinned-Up Design:
This classic old-school tattoo design consolidates a military subject, as officers and mariners wore these old-school tattoos a long way from home. They needed a beautiful woman to accompany them, so they ran with the prettiest lady they could discover. This magnificence is appeared in a great stance, hands behind the head, mid-section out. She is wearing a Marine corp cap and a marine-themed bodysuit. This is a flawless case of a good pin-up young lady tattoo.
- Body Placement: Place this tattoo design on your arm, forearm or back.
- Design: The design shows a beautiful dressed-up woman.
- Ink Colour: Choose shades of yellow, green and blue for this design.
- Size: Make this small to medium size.
- Skin Tone: Best on fair to medium skin tones.
- Suitable Gender: This tattoo design applies only to men.
13. Lustrous Red Old School Tattoos:
Pinup young ladies come in all shapes and sizes, simply like genuine ladies. Maybe the most conspicuous of all pin-up young ladies is Betty Page. She took the workmanship to another level and was staggeringly ribald of her time. I’m certain she was stuck in the dividers of numerous young fellows. In that capacity, she is the ideal subject for a pin-up young lady old school tattoo, depicted here in this red patent cowhide get-up.
- Body Placement: Place this tattoo design on your arm, forearm or back.
- Design: The design shows a bold woman.
- Ink Colour: Choose black, pink, and blue shades for this one.
- Size: Make this a small to medium size.
- Skin Tone: Best on fair to medium skin tones.
- Suitable Gender: This tattoo design suits all genders, primarily men.
14. Ethnic American Eagle:
There is most likely no other creature that is as vital as the hawk in the American legacy, it is hence an excellent example of old-school art designs. Because of this creature’s remarkable spot in American culture, individuals have constantly venerated it by having it inked on them. The conventional American hawk tattoo is a basic picture, and it is generally drawn as a feature of another tattoo or joined with different images like the American banner. This is one of the best old-school tattoo designs for men.
- Body Placement: Place this tattoo design on your arm, forearm or back.
- Design: The design shows a falcon about to take flight.
- Ink Colour: Choose the shades of black and the American flag.
- Size: Make this small to medium size.
- Skin Tone: Best on fair to medium skin tones.
- Suitable Gender: This tattoo design is suitable for all genders.
15. Fearsome Dagger Tattoo:
A traditional dagger can be a symbolic representation of various emotions, and it is connected with peril, demise, and fierceness. Nonetheless, the conventional dagger old-school tattoo will make a mind-boggling tattoo plan when drawn well. With this tattoo, there are likewise numerous varieties to the outline, consolidated with different components like skulls and hearts.
- Body Placement: Place this tattoo design on your arm, forearm or back.
- Design: The design shows a dagger piercing out of a skull.
- Ink Colour: Choose shades of black along with red for this one.
- Size: Make this small to medium size.
- Skin Tone: Best on fair to medium skin tones.
- Suitable Gender: This tattoo design is suitable for most men.
16. Sailors Hallmark –Traditional Ship Design:
Other than the delightful plans that this kind of tattoo comes in, it likewise has a few implications. For a few people, the boat speaks to the wearer. Thus, the boat’s outline in the tattoo will enlighten you greatly regarding them. The water that the boat is cruising on, for the most part, speaks to life. Contingent upon the message planned, the waters in the tattoo might be stormy or smooth as Adjacent to the typical significance; these American old-school tattoo meanings are fantastic.
- Body Placement: Place this tattoo design on your arm, forearm or back.
- Design: The design shows a ship on its tumultuous journey.
- Ink Colour: Choose shades of black along with red and blue.
- Size: Make this small to medium size.
- Skin Tone: Best on fair to medium skin tones.
- Suitable Gender: This tattoo design is suitable for most men.
17. Peace Messenger Old School Tattoos:
Despite the fact that it is viewed as a conventional American tattoo, this old-school tattoo draws motivation from the Egyptian city of Giza. The pyramid rests on the ever-rolling desert sands with a palm tree on its side. The tree is drawn to be seen as providing shade to the pyramid.
- Body Placement: Place this tattoo design on your arm, forearm or back.
- Design: The design is a scene of Egypt and the pyramids.
- Ink Colour: Choose shades of black along with yellow, green and brown.
- Size: Make this small to medium size.
- Skin Tone: Best on fair to medium skin tones.
- Suitable gender: This tattoo design is suitable for all genders.
18. Native American Old School Art:
Local Americans are among the few individuals in North America who have figured out how to keep their conventions and society in place in spite of all the outside impact. This has constantly made numerous individuals respect them and demonstrate these individuals have various things connected with their way of life inked in them. The dream catcher is the most prominent Native American image utilized in tattoos. Notwithstanding, it is not the only Native American old-school tattoo, as there are a few others.
- Body Placement: Place this tattoo design on the back or side of the abdomen.
- Design: The design shows an abstract owl.
- Ink Colour: Choose shades of black along with red for this one.
- Size: Make this in a medium to big size.
- Skin Tone: Best on fair to medium skin tones.
- Suitable Gender: This tattoo design is suitable for all genders.
19. Authentic Roses Old School Tattoos:
Roses mean unconditional adoration. Thus, they have been utilized as tattoo pictures to demonstrate this for a long time. Although the conventional American roses are incredibly straightforward and not as brilliant as the new school ones, they figure out how to draw out this message. In spite of the absence of the numerous hues connected with cutting-edge bloom tattoos, there is a sure-of-a-kind look that exclusive conventional roses can give a tattoo wearer.
- Body Placement: Place this tattoo design on your arm, forearm and side of the wrist.
- Design: The design shows a bright red fiery rose.
- Ink Colour: Choose shades of red, yellow and green.
- Size: Make this small to medium size.
- Skin Tone: Best on fair to medium skin tones.
- Suitable Gender: This tattoo design is suitable mostly for women.
20. Nautical Star Old School Tattoos:
This five-pointed and two-conditioned star has become simply stylish throughout the years; however, generally, it was a sea image connected with a route. Mariners utilized the nautical star to express their longing to get back home securely from the voyages that removed them many miles from home for a while. They could likewise utilize the tattoo to express their craving to experience life securely, notwithstanding every one of the difficulties they may run over in life.
- Body Placement: Place this tattoo design on your arm, forearm, back or thigh.
- Design: The design shows an abstract symbol.
- Ink Colour: Choose shades of green and blue for this design.
- Size: Make this small to medium size.
- Skin Tone: Best on fair to medium skin tones.
- Suitable Gender: This tattoo design is suitable moreover for men.
See More: Money Tattoo Designs
Tips about Old School Tattoo Design:
- Classic novels and movies are some of the best sources of ideas and inspiration for old-school tattoo designs.
- Do not restrict your sources to the internet and tattoo artists; if you visit a museum or any heritage structure, take inspiration from the same.
- Ensure your tattoo artist and you are on the same page while discussing and finalising the design so you achieve only the most accurate design.
- Fill in colours only if you are willing to get regular touch-ups of your tattoo because faded coloured tattoos are not a pleasant sight.
- Please ensure the tattoo artist is well-versed in his profession and maintains hygiene.
Taking a gander at some of the implications of old-school tattoo ideas listed above, you may jump at the chance to select which suits better on you and what you’re attempting to pass on in your tattoo while accurately becoming a part of your personality. You could then tell your craftsman the symbols you’d like in your general piece and let him arrange a “stream” or picture creation. This personal piece will be only yours, and you can show it off proudly.
